Watch: 'The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot,' a starry 'Doctor Who' comedy

Trailer for "The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot."

Trailer for "The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot."

Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times Television Critic

Immediately following the worldwide simulcast of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special episode, "The Day of the Doctor," which brought Tenth Doctor David Tennant side by side with Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, and included a brief glimpse of Smith's own coming-soon successor Peter Capaldi and a cameo by Fourth Doctor Tom Baker, the BBC posted another anniversary program.

Equally wonderful in its way, written and directed by Fifth Doctor Peter Davison (the cricket-and-celery Doctor), "The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot" (trailer above, title links to the whole show) stars Davison, Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy and Eighth Doctor Paul McGann, among a head-spinning array of famous faces, from "Who" and beyond. (Third Doctor Jon Pertwee is represented by genetic proxy by his actor son Sean Pertwee, seen in a preamble with Olivia Colman -- bruited by some as a possible first female Doctor before Capaldi was announced as the next.) [updated, Nov. 4, 3:41 p.m.: A reader points out that Second Doctor Patrick Troughton is also genetically present, through his son David Troughton, also a well-known actor, who appears as a Dalek operator.]

I'll say no more on that account, since one of the great pleasures of this madcap little self-deprecating celebratory half-hour is seeing who shows up and how. But the basis of the plot, set between the airing of last year's Christmas special and now, is the anniversary special and the old stars' desire to be a part of it. From a Peter Cushing reference to a "Dalek Operators' Gazette" it has been made as a treat for the fans, and a way (Davison's own cunning plan, possibly) to get the other Doctors -- not the lesser Doctors, but the less likely Doctors -- into the party.